Tape feeding, printing, and tag attaching machine



P. N. BRAUN April 24, 1956 TAPE FEEDING, PRINTING AND TAG ATTACHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1951 P. N. BRAUN I April 24, 1956 TAPE FEEDING, PRINTING AND TAG ATTACHING MACHINE 5 Shets-Shee Filed Oct. 9 1951 m m llL April 24, 1956 P. N. BRAUN 2,742,828

TAPE FEEDING, PRINTING AND TAG ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Fiz/m XJrda/V P. N. BRAUN 2,742,828

TAPE FEEDING, PRINTING AND TAG ATTACHINC MACHINE April 24, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 9, 1951 April 24, 1956 P. N. BRAUN 2,742,828

TAPE FEEDING, PRINTING AND TAG ATTACHING MACHINE Filed 001:. 9, 1951 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ills--5- Ina-.5]-

IN V EN TOR.

7/2/71) 72 Jrdufl a /$7 United States Patent TAPE FEEDING, PRINTING, AND TAG ATTACHING MACHINE Philip N. Braun, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application October 9, 1951, Serial No. 250,463

6 Claims. (Cl. 93-88) This invention relates to marking machines of the general type embodying mechanism for feeding a tape from a supply, as a roll, to a set of type wheels at the printing line of the wheels, and mechanism operable during each operation of the machine to print on the tape, operate the tape mechanism to feed the tape one step to carry the printed portion to stapling and tag severing mechanisms to attach the tag to a garment, or article; and has for its object the location of tape feeding, printing, stapling, and cut-off mechanism, or means, carried as a unit in a frame in front of and below the level of the printing line, which mechanisms, or means, consist of an actuator rock shaft and arms thereon spaced along the same, which arms actuate in sequence the printing'mechanism or means, the tape feed mechanism or means, and the stapling and cut-01f mechanisms, or means, the arm which actuates the stapling means carrying the anvil of the stapling means being the actuator for the rock shaft and its radial angle being greater than that of the other rock arms, whereby upon the operation of the anvil arm, the printing, tape feeding, stapling and cut-off means, and finally the clinching of the staples by the anvil, take place in the order set forth. The article to be tagged, or a portion thereof, is drawn taut over the anvil during the actuation of the rock shaft by the anvil arm.

Heretofore, machines of this general type have embodied separate printing platen mechanism, separate tape feed mechanism, and separate stapling mechanism in which the anvil is stationary, and the stapling mechanism moved to press the staple through the garment to be tagged against a stationary anvil. This printing mechanism, tape feed mechanism, stapling and cut-off mechanism being located at stations, or performed in separate independently operated machines.

The feature of the machine of this invention characterizing it, is the location of all of said mechanisms, or means, as a unit on a rock shaft, the operation of which performs the various operations in sequence upon each operation of the anvil arm over which the garment to be tagged is drawn taut, with the rock shaft extending transversely of the printing wheels so that the tape feeds from its supply, or supply roll, in a straight run across the printing wheels and lengthwise of the printing line position to printing position and to stapling position in contradistinction to passing from a feed roll in an angular path, or from printing position to stapling position.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspectivev view looking downward and rearward from the left front of the machine showing the printing platen means, the tape feeding means, the tag stapling means, the tag severing means, the ink ribbon means, and the common actuator or rock shaft for all of said means.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the platen printing means taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the tape feeding mechanism on approximately line 33, Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views looking to the right and left, respectively, on line 44 and 5-5, respectively, Figure 1, Figure 4 showing the anvil of the stapling means when about to operate the staple holder of said stapling means, and Figure 5 showing the knife of the tag cut-off means and connections between it and the carrier arm for the anvil.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 6-6, Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary assembly view of the tape deflector carried by the tape cut-off mechanism shown in Figure 5.

Figures 8 and 9 are opposite side elevations of the casing of the machine.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the machine, as viewed in Figure 9.

This machine comprises specifically, a main frame, a set of type wheels mounted on a horizontal axis in the frame and independently settable to set selected type at a transverse printing line, means to feed an ink ribbon over the type at the printing line, means for feeding a tape over the ink ribbon at the printing line in a straight run of tape from one lateral side of the type wheels to beyond the other lateral side, and a demountable auxiliary frame carried by the main frame in front of the type wheels and below the level of the printing line, successively operable tape printing platen means, tape feeding means, tag stapling means and tag severing means, the last for severing the printed tag from the tape, all of said means being carried by the auxiliary frame, and an actuator rock shaft mounted in the auiliary frame and common to all of said means, the stapling means including a pivoted staple holder and an anvil having a back and forth movement toward and from the holder, over which anvil the article to be tagged is tauted, the, holder being located in the path of the anvil, the anvil being mounted on the rock shaft to rock the shaft, and means on the rock shaft to effect the actuation of the platen means to actuate the tape feed means and the tape severing means while the anvil is being moved to actuate the stapling meansbefore the anvil and the article tauted thereon reaches the staple holder.

The machine is characterized by the arrangement of the printing platen means, tape feeding means, the stapling means, and the tag severing means, so that the tape feeds from a roll or supply in a straight line along the printing line, and the operation of said means, together with the ink ribbon means, by a single rock shaft actuated by the stapling and tag severing means.

The machine is further characterized by all of said means including the rock shaft and parts or arms operated thereby, with the exception of the ink ribbon spools and guide, being supported by a demountable auxiliary frame removable as aunlt from the main frame which carries the type wheels.

The numeral 11, Figures 1, 8, 9 and 10, designates the main frame, or casing, which supports, or houses, a series of type wheels 12, Figures 1 and 10, mounted on a horizontal axis 13. The type wheels are provided with peripheral type. In this machine, each type wheel is provided with digital type from 1 to inclusive, and with a full complement of alphabetical type. Each type wheel may, however, be provided with additional type characters. The type wheels 12 are provided with radially extending finger pieces 14, Figures 8, 9 and 10, which extend through slots in the top of the arcuate wall of the casing 11. There is a finger piece 14 for each type wheel and one slot 15 for each type wheel. The slots have scales 15A corresponding to the type faces. By moving the finger piece of each type wheel along the scale so that the finger piece is in a transverse line with a selected character on the scale, the corresponding type wheel is set with the selected type at the printing line corresponding to the character of the scale alined with the finger piece. Thus, any identifying character may be set in the type wheel. Thus, any combination of numbers and letters can be set by the independently settable type wheels at the printing line.

16 designates the ink ribbon, and 17 the ink ribbon feed mechanism. This ink ribbon and ribbon feed mechanism is supported, as will be hereinafter described.

18 designates the tape which is carried by a roll 19 mounted on a stud on a bracket 20, Figures 8, 9 and 10, the tape 18 having its outer run extending in a straight line across the printing line of the type Wheels 12 to the stapling and tag severing means, the tape being fed by a pair of feed rollers 21, 21A, Figure 3, the feed roll 21 being actuated by mechanism 22 supported by a frame plate 23, Figures 1 and 3, as will be hereinafter described.

24 is an auxiliary frame carried by the main frame 11 in front of and below the printing line and held in position in any suitable manner, as by screws 25.

26 is an actuator rock shaft mounted in the frame 24 and extending transversely thereof, this rock shaft being the actuator for the tape printing platen means, the tape feeding means, the stapling and tag severing means, all of said means being carried by the auxiliary frame 24 and the rock shaft 26 being common to all of said means and to the ink ribbon means. The rock shaft is actuated by a lever or anvil arm 27 having a back and forth movement and here shown as having a hub 28 keyed to the rock shaft. The arm 27 is the carrier for the anvil 29 of the stapling mechanism, this anvil being carried at the front end of a forward projecting head 30 carried at the upper end of the arm 27. The arm 27 is formed with laterally extending handles 31 which are gripped by the hands also gripping portions of the article drawn taut over the anvil 29 while the arm 27 is being actuated by the hands gripping the handles 31.

The platen printing means comprises an upright lever arm 32 mounted in the auxiliary frame 24 on a pivot 33 parallel to the shaft 26 and a platen head 34 carried at the upper end of the arm 32 and movable toward and from the printing line to press the tape 18 against the ink ribbon and press the ink ribbon against the type at the printing line. The arm 32 is actuated by electroresponsive means as a solenoid 35 suitably supported in the auxiliary frame 24 and having a core 36 which coacts with a cam surface 37 on the arm 32 so that when the solenoid is momentarily energized, the arm 32 is swung about its pivot 33 to carry the platen head 34 toward the tape at the printing line. The retrograde movement of the arm 32 is limited by a buffer 32B.

The solenoid is connected in a circuit, as wires 38, which are connected to a microswitch 39 having a movable switch arm 45, the switch being normally open and being closed by an arm or segment 40 on the shaft 26 at a suitable radial angle to momentarily close the switch arm 45 and again let it open before the arm 27 of the anvil 29 has moved far enough to bring the anvil 29 in position to effect the stapling. Thus, the anvil arm 27 has started on its actuating movement when the solenoid is energized. The arm is provided with a suitable means as a pawl 41 held from movement about its pivot 42 by a stop 43 on the arm 40, the nose of the pawl being located to engage a roller 44 which actuates the arm 45, Figure l, of the switch 39 to momentarily close the switch during the forward movement of the rock shaft 26 by the anvil arm 27. The pawl 41 ratchets away from the stop 43 so as not to actuate the switch arm 45 during the retrograde movement of the rock shaft 26 and the anvil arm 27. The tape feed roller 21 is actuated by mechanism including a pawl 47 carried by a rock arm 48, the pawl 47, or a roller at the end thereof, coacting with the arm of a star wheel 49 forming part of the tape feed mechanism 22.

During the forward movement of the rock shaft 26, the star wheel, through gears 50 and 51, actuates the roller 21 to feed the tape a predetermined distance. The radial angle of the rock arm 48 is different from the radial angles of the anvil arm 27 and the arm 40 for closing the switch 39, so that the tape feeding roller 21 is not actuated until after the solenoid has been energized and before the anvil arm 27 reaches its final stapling position. The pawl 47 is pivotally mounted at 52 between its ends on the rock arm 48 and normally is held from pivotal movement by a stop 53 on the rear weighted end of the pawl 47 engaging the rear of the arm 48, so that during the forward movement of the arm 48, the pawl 47 is held rigid while contacting the arm of the star wheel 49, but the pawl is free to ratchet past the arm of the star wheel 49 during the retrograde movement of the rock shaft 26 and the arm 48. The star wheel 49, gears 50, 51, roller 21 and shaft therefor, are supported in plate or shelf 23. This has an angular flange 23A secured to the side walls of the casing 86, to be referred to, to the left flange 23A being shown as formed with two holes 23B for a member to secure it to the left wall, Figure l, of the casing 86.

The printing operation by the platen head 34 and the tape feeding operation by the arm 48 are successively accomplished before the anvil arm 27 effects the stapling and tag cut-off operations. The stapling mechanism, Figures 1 and 4, includes a demountable magazine holder 54, Figures 1 and 4, in which the staples are held in the usual manner, the holder 54 having trunnions 55 at its lower end which fit into open ended slots in a bracket arm 56 held by the auxiliary frame 24. This staple holder 54 is actuated by the anvil 29 with the garment drawn taut over it, pressing against the upper end of the staple holder 54 and moving it on its pivot 55 toward an abutment 57 mounted in the auxiliary casing 24. This abutment carries a staple ejector 58 which ejects the topmost staple in the holder 54, causing the prongs thereof to pierce the tag and the article and coact with recesses 29A in the anvil 29 to clinch over the prongs of the staple and thus secure the tag to the article. The abutment 57 is releasably held in the casing or frame 24 by a spring catch device 57A. A spring 570 is anchored at 571 to the lower end of the holder arm 54 and is loaded by the movement of the arm 54 when depressed to the left, Figure 4, to cause the ejector 56 to eject a staple. The spring 570 reacts to return the holder 54 to its normal starting position, Figure 4.

As the printing mechanism is first operated and the tape is then fed, the end of the tape, which has just been printed, is fed to the stapling machanism. During the stapling operation, the printed tag is cut off by a knife 59, Figures 1 and 7, pivoted at 60 to a bracket 61 on the frame or casing 24, this knife being located to cut off the printed tag during, or at the end of, the stapling operation, the knife having a shearing action rather than a chopping action, due to the fact that the knife is an angular pivoted lever.

As'seen in Figure 5, the knife is actuated during the last portion of the forward movement of the anvil arm 27 and, as here illustrated, the anvil arm 27 is connected by an extension 62 extending to opposite sides of the rock shaft 26 from that on which the arm 27 extends, and connected through a pin and slot connection 63, 64, to the lower end of the link 65, the upper end of which is pivoted at 66 to an angular arm 67 of the knife 59.

The ink ribbon feed mechanism designated generally 17 is actuated by a rock arm 68, Figures 1 and 6, on the shaft 26, this arm having a pin 69 pivotally connecting it to the front end of a link 72 which is pivoted at its rear end at 74 to an angular arm 75 pivoted at 76 to the frame 76A which supports the bracket or frame 77 of the ribbon mechanism, Figure 1, this arm 75 having a shoulder 78 at its end which coacts with an actuating lever 79 forming part of the feed and reversing mechanism for the ribbon spools 80 of the ribbon mechanism 17. The pin 69 is normally held from dislodgement by a keeper plate 81, Figures 1 and 6, slidable on the link 72 and having a keyhole slot 82 for receiving the end of the pin 69 and interlocking therewith. The keeper plate is restrained from shifting by a spring 83. By sliding the keeper plate against its spring and along the link 72, the slot 82 can be positioned to permit the pin 69 to be dislodged and the arm 68 uncoupled from the link 72 so that the auxiliary casing 24, shaft 26, and parts actuated thereby, can be demounted as a unit. The rock arm 68 has sufiicient resiliency to permit the lateral shifting to dislodge the pin 69 from the keyhole slot of the keeper plate. the radial angles of the arms 49, 48 and 27 is such that the ribbon is indexed at the end of the forward movement of the rock shaft 26 and the anvil arm 27.

The ribbon mechanism is mounted on the frame or chassis at 77 in the main casing 11 and has a guide portion 85 which extends inwardly to guide one run of the ribbon in one direction, or the other, lengthwise of the printing line, and the entire frame 77 is withdrawn as a unit from the main casing 11 upon the opening of a door 82, Figure 8.

By the construction just described, all of the printing platen means, tape feeding means and stapling and tag severing means carried by the auxiliary frame 24 are readily demountable and get-at-able as a unit, and also owing to the frame for the ribbon mechanism 17, the ribbon mechanism is demountable as a unit.

The auxiliary casing 24 and the rock shaft 26 mounted therein, together with the rock arms thereon, are removable as a unit. The projecting end of the rock shaft 26 and the arms 40, 48 and 68 thereon, however, extend into a fixed casing 86, the shaft 26 extending through a slot 87, Figure l, in the inner wall 88 of the fixed casing 86 so that the shaft 26 and the rock arms 40, 48 and 68, can be readily removed as a unit when the auxiliary casing 24 is demounted. The auxiliary casing 24 has a removable front cover 89, Figures 8 and 9, held in position in any suitable manner, the anvil carrier arm 27 and the platen carrying arm 32 extending through slots 90 and 91 in the cover 89. The fixed casing 86 is provided with a removable front cover 92, Figures 8, 9 and 10, held in position, as by a screw 93. Upon removal of the cover 89 for the fixed casing, the pin 69 can be readily dislodged from the keeper plate 81 by sliding the keeper plate on the link 72 against the spring 83 until the pin 69 is unlocked from the keyhole slot of the keeper plate and then slightly springing the arm 68 to the left, Figure 1, so that when the auxiliary frame 24, shaft 26 and arms carried thereby are removable as a unit, the pin 69 of the arm 68 is uncoupled from the link 72 by the unlocking of the keeper plate 81. The mechanism 22, including the star wheel 49 for operating the tape feed roll 21, is carried by the frame plate or shelf 23, suitably mounted within the fixed casing 86.

The ribbon spool mechanism designated generally 17 is carried by the chassis or frame 77, Figures 1 and 6,

The radial angle of the arm 68 relative to this chassis being supported in an upstanding portion 96 of the casing. 86 and being accessible through the door 82. The casing 86 is. an extension or addition on th mainframe 0r casing 11.

The guide portion of the chassis 77 is provided with guide strips 98 opposed to the face thereof and serving to glide the tape 18 across the printing line and this tape, after being printed and the printed or tag end thereof fed to the stapling and cut-off mechanism, is guided to the stapling and cut-off mechanism, as presently described.

The ribbon feed mechanism per se forms no part of this invention except for its location relative to the shaft.

26 and the type wheels and parts, mounted on the shaft 26 or, in other words, its location and arrangement in the assembly of the parts operated by the shaft 26.

The tape 18 is fed in a straight transverse line over the portion of the irdr ribbon overlying the type wheels.

and then to between the staple holder arm 54 over the upper end of the arm and the outlet. opening 99 in the upper end of the staple. holder arm 54, in the path of the, anvil 29. The arm 54 is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4 while the anvil 29 is on its way from starting position and before it engages the tag end of the tape to be stapled. Hence, the advance end edge. of the tape, when the tape is, fed from printing position, would abut against the side of the arm 54. To avoid this happening, a deflector 100 is provided, this being shown in Figures 1, 5 and 7, as carried by the tape severing knife 59 and located to deflect the tape to clear the arm 54.

I As here shown, the deflector 100 is carried by a base plate 101 mounted on the pivots 60 and 66 of the knife 59 and its angular arm 67, so that it shifts as a unit with the. knife when the knife 59 is operated While the. arm 54 is, being depressed by the anvil 29. A guide 102, or second deflector, Figure l, is carried by the arm 54 is position to deflect the end of the tape deflected by the deflector 100, transversely across the arm 54 into the path of the anvil 29.. The knife 59 is retracted by a torsion spring 103 anchored at its ends to the knife 59 and to the casing 24.

By the arrangement of the anvil 29 and its carrying arm 27, an article can be placed over the anvil so as to staple the tag anywhere on the article. For instance, a sleeve, or a trouser leg etc., can be sleeved on the article and the tag located anywhere on the sleeve or pants leg. Also, oftentimes it is necessary to affix the tag to the edge of an article and in order to facilitate the holding of the article with its edge in position to coact with the stapling mechanism, the anvil 29 is provided with a band 105 of a somewhat compressible friction material as, for instance, sponge rubber, which retains its hold on the article drawn taut over the anvil, so that the edge of the article does not slip off the anvil when the article is being held taut on the anvil and while the tag is being attached to an edge of the article.

In operation, the article, or a portion thereof, is drawn taut over the anvil 29 by the hands of the operator grasping the handles 31. The handles 31 are then pressed toward the stapling mechanism. The platen printing arm 32 is first actuated by the solenoid 35 due to the arm or segment 40 closing the microswitch 39. The arm 48 on the rock shaft 26 next actuates the feed roll 21 by contacting the star wheel 49. The anvil 29 then engages the staple holder 54 and moves it about its pivot 55 to the left, Figure 4, causing the ejector to eject the staple. and press its prongs through the outlet 99 of the holder 54, through the tag and through the portion of the garment drawn taut across the anvil 29, which clinches over the ends of the prongs of the staple. While this operation is being performed, the cut-oil knife 59 is being actuated by the carrier arm 27 of the anvil, thus cutting off the tag end of the tape attached to the article. Also, during this last operating movement of the carrier arm 27, thev rock arm 68 on the rock shaft 26 has moved far enough to actuate the ribbon feed mechanism 17 one step.

What I claim is:

1. In a tag printing and attaching machine of the class described, a main frame, a set of type wheels mounted on a horizontal axis in the frame and independently settable to set selected type at a transverse printing line, means to feed an ink ribbon over the type at the printing line, means for feeding a tape over the ink ribbon at the printing line in a straight run of tape from one lateral side of the type wheels to beyond the other lateral side, and a demountable auxiliary frame carried by the main frame in front of the type wheels and below the level of the printing line, successively operable tape printing platen means, tag stapling means, and tag severing means, the last for severing the printed tag from the tape, said printing platen means, tag stapling means, and tag severing means being carried by the auxiliary frame, an actuator rock shaft mounted in the auxiliary frame and common to all of said means, the stapling means including a pivoted staple holder and an anvil having a back and forth movement toward and from the holder, over which anvil the article to be tagged is tauted, the holder being located in the path of the anvil, the anvil being mounted on the rock shaft to rock the shaft, and means on the rock shaft to effect the actuation of the platen means the tape feed means and the tape severing means while the anvil is being moved toward the stapling means before the anvil and the article tauted thereon reaches the staple holder.

2. In a tag printing and attaching machine of the class described, a main frame, a set of type wheels mounted in the frame and independently settable to set selected type at a printing line, means to feed an ink ribbon over the type at the printing line, means to feed a tape over the ink ribbon at the printing line, tape printing means, tag stapling and tag severing means, and an actuator rock shaft common to all of said means, the stapling means including a staple holder and a staple ejector, an anvil and an anvil carrier, the carrier having a back and forth movement toward and from the holder over which carrier the article to be tagged is tauted, the anvil carrier being mounted on the rock shaft to rock the shaft, and the staple holder being arranged in the path of the anvil, and means on the rock shaft to successively effect the actuation of the platen means, the tape feeding means and the tape severing means while the anvil is being moved toward the stapling means before the anvil and the article tauted thereon reaches the staple holder.

3. In a tag printing and attaching machine of the class described, a main frame, a set of type wheels mounted in the frame and independently settable to set selected type at a printing line, means to feed an ink ribbon over the type at the printing line, means to feed a tape over the ink ribbon at the printing line, tape printing means, tag stapling and tag severing means, and an actuator rock shaft common to all of said means, the stapling means including a staple holder and a staple ejector, an anvil and an anvil carrier, the carrier having a back and forth movement toward and from the holder over which carrier the article to be tagged is tauted, the anvil carrier being mounted on the rock shaft to rock the shaft, and the staple holder being arranged in the path of the anvil, and means on the rock shaft to successively effect the actuation of the platen means, the tape feeding means and the tape severing means while the anvil is being moved toward the stapling means before the anvil and the article tauted thereon reaches the staple holder, the tape feed means being located to feed the tape in a straight line across the type wheels from one side of the type wheels to the other, and said rock shaft and the means actuated thereby extending parallel to the run of the tape extending across the type wheels.

4. A tag printing and attaching machine of the class described, a main frame, a set of type wheels mounted in the main frame and independently settable to set selected type at the printing line, means to feed an ink ribbon over the type at the printing line, means to feed the tape over the ink ribbon at the printing line, tape printing means, tag stapling and severing means, and actuator means common to all of the former means, the stapling means including an upright pivoted staple holder arm and a staple ejector, an anvil, an anvil carrier arm, the carrier arm having a back and forth movement toward and from the holder over which carrier arm the article to be tagged is tauted, the staple holder having an outlet for the ejected staple, said outlet opening being arranged in the path of the anvil whereby the anvil, during its movement by the carrier arm, actuates the holder about its pivot, and means to effect the successive actuation of the tape feeding means and the stapling and severing means while the anvil is being moved toward the stapling means before the anvil and the article tauted thereon engages and actuates the staple holder, the staple holder being arranged to move crosswise of the path of the feeding movement of the tape, with the side of the staple holder in the path of the end of the tape to be fed, and a deflector located in the path of the end of the tape to deflect the tape around the staple holder, and a guide means carried by the staple holder in the path of the deflected tape to move the tape transversely across the staple holder and the outlet therein, and into the path of the anvil with the article tauted thereon.

5. A tag printing and attaching machine of the class described, a main frame, a set of type wheels mounted on a horizontal axis in the frame and independently settable to set selected type at a transverse printing line, tape feeding means and ribbon feeding means mounted on the main frame at one side of the type wheels, said ribbon feeding means being operable when actuated to feed an ink ribbon laterally across the type wheels at a transverse printing line, said tape feeding means being operable when actuated to feed a tape from a supply laterally over the ribbon at the printing line in a straight run beyond the opposite side of the type wheels, an auxiliary frame detachably mounted on the main frame in front of the type wheels and below at a level of the printing line, a tape printing platen mounted on the auxiliary frame, a tag stapling means mounted on the auxiliary frame at the opposite side of said type wheels, and a tag severing means mounted on said auxiliary frame intermediate said printing platen, and stapling means for severing when actuated the printed tag from the tape, a rock shaft journalled in said auxiliary frame, a stapling anvil mounted on said rock shaft to rock the shaft upon movement of said anvil toward and from said stapling means, and motion transmitting means connected to said rock shaft and operable upon rocking movement of the shaft to successively actuate said platen, tape feeding means, stapling means and tag severing means.

6. A tag printing and attaching machine of the class described, a main frame, a set of type wheels mounted on a horizontal axis in the frame and independently settable to set selected type at a transverse printing line, tape feeding means located at one side of the type wheels and operable to feed the tape laterally across the type wheels to beyond the opposite side thereof, a tape printing platen, tag stapling and severing means mounted on said opposite side of the type wheels, said tag severing means being located intermediate the type wheels and stapling means and operable to sever the printed tag from the tape, an anvil over which the article to be tagged is tauted movable into and out of engagement with said stapling means, an ink ribbon feed mechanism detachably mounted on the frame at the same side of the type wheels as the tape feed means, said ribbon feeding mechanism including a pair of ribbon spools and a guide member for guiding the ribbon from one spool transversely across the type wheels intermediate the same and the tape at the printing line and returning the ribbon to the other spool, and motion transmitting mechanism opmeans to actuate said printing platen, tape feed means, tag severing means and ink ribbon feed mechanism.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 References Cited in the file of this patent 957,420 Hall May 10, 1910 1,156,672 Davis Oct. 12, 1915 1,822,339 Constable Sept. 8, 1931 10 1,969,898 Mortimer Aug. 14, 1934 10 Weimont July 29, 1947 Kosmer Feb. 3, 1948 Inskeep Mar. 8, 1949 Linnemann Aug.v2, 1949 Braun Mar. 6, 1951 Braun Nov. 20, 1951 Braun Aug. 7, 1951 Petermann et a1 May 27, 1952 

